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1-Day Locarno Itinerary

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Updated
• updatedAug 20, 2025

Locarno in 1 day

If you only have 1 day to spend in Locarno, we’ve narrowed down the top places you should check out to get the best experience of your time here.
With favorites like Ristorante Locanda Locarnese, Casinò Locarno, and Piazza Grande, we’ll make sure you don’t miss out on all the must sees. We even included some of our favorite food spots around the area, like Tesoro 25 75 14 41 and Perbacco - Ristorante Pizzeria so you can get the best taste of Locarno while you’re here. To see our full list of food recommendations, check out our best restaurants post. If you're traveling on a budget, you can check out our cheap eats post.
Looking for other day-by-day itineraries in Locarno?
  • 2-Day Locarno Itinerary
  • 3-Day Locarno Itinerary
  • 4-Day Locarno Itinerary
  • 5-Day Locarno Itinerary
Visiting Locarno? See our Locarno Trip Planner.
Feel free to follow our itinerary exactly or tailor it to your own needs — happy wandering!
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Table of contents
  • Locarno in 1 day
  • 1-day itinerary

Day 1

1-day itinerary
With only 1 day to squeeze in as much activities as you can, we strategically grouped the must-sees, Piazza Grande and Casinò Locarno with surrounding point of interests to make sure you don’t leave Locarno without getting the most bang for your time. Combining the average time spent at each location and traveling time in between, it should fill up about 8 hours of your day.
1

Piazza Grande

4.5
(9783)
•
4.0
(574)
Sights & Landmarks
Pedestrian zone
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Piazza Grande in Locarno is a charming town square featuring cobblestone streets and historic buildings. The square serves as the focal point for various events such as film festivals and food fairs, making it a lively hub of activity. Surrounded by old palaces and adorned with harmonious porticos in the Lombard architectural style, Piazza Grande offers a picturesque setting for visitors to explore.
We came in the summer from Ascona to Locarno by local bus to explore its famous Piazza Grande and the surrounding old town. Our idea was to have dinner somewhere in the mazes of the old town. In the evening the magnificent Piazza was already quite empty, so we could admire it very well. The Piazza is bordered by rows of colorful three-story houses. Narrow streets go off in different directions. Nice compact old town.
Heikki K — Google review
Piazza Grande is the central square in old town Locarno. It's a pretty big square adorned with beautiful Italian style vivid color houses. A famous summer film festival is held here. Place is cool to walk and sip a drink in one of outdoor cafes, however it's deserted at night
Dejan B — Google review
It’s an amazing place specially during Locarno Film Festival when placed with an incredible audience
Zaid J — Google review
Piazza Grande in Locarno is a beautiful open square surrounded by colorful historic buildings. The lively atmosphere makes it perfect for walking, relaxing, or sitting at a café. Spacious and suitable for families and visitors anytime. Truly worth a visit.
Our_discoveries5 — Google review
A cute Square in the center of Locarno. Beautiful colorful historical buildings.
Davina D — Google review
Outstanding place. Especially during Locarno Film Festival
AZ — Google review
During the film festival, the square was the centerpiece.
Irma G — Google review
Just a great place to relax and to enjoy a nice meal, ice cream or coffee. There are beautiful parks nearby and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes for any tastes.
Beat O — Google review
6600 Locarno, Switzerland•https://www.ascona-locarno.com/fr/actualites/piazza-grande-locar…•Tips and more reviews for Piazza Grande
3 min · 0.17 mi
2

Casinò Locarno

4.1
(711)
•
3.6
(74)
Casino
Fun & Games
Nestled in the heart of Locarno, Casinò Locarno is a charming destination that beautifully blends history with modern entertainment. Just a stone's throw from the bustling Piazza Grande, this recently renovated casino features an inviting atmosphere perfect for both locals and visitors alike. With 150 slot machines and various gaming tables including American Roulette and Blackjack, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
We had a beautiful school performance at the Casino Locarno on 25./26.05 2024. Great job everyone. Special thanks to the technician who helped us all the way👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. See ya in 2026!😁😁😁
Nikolaus B — Google review
Food and service at Buono is an outstanding experience. Thank you for providing quality customer service and offering super fresh food with a twist. Really a great experience not to be missed. Dogs are welcome.
Oliver B — Google review
Recently renovated local casinò. Casual and laid-back atmosphere. The place attracts mostly locals and tourists. Slot machines, roulette, american roulette and blackjack are available. Friendly and efficient staff. Bar is good and with standard bar prices. Must have an ID card or driving license to enter.
Maurizio M — Google review
Poor casino, if a strange split a drink on your screen and you loose your bet, they won't fix it.
JP H — Google review
Incredibly ugly building with large display on the front doesn't belong in a pretty town like Locarno
Henkie P — Google review
ID required to enter. Clean and tidy, but has smoking portion behind mirrored doors. Across Swiss francs and Euros
Steve D — Google review
very nice. cozy!
Jay M — Google review
I wait here over 30 min and no one ...its 30 degrees and im thirsty ....never ever vring my cash here ! Horrible ....
Yelines H — Google review
Largo Franco Zorzi 1, 6600 Locarno, Switzerland•http://www.casinolocarno.ch/•+41 91 756 30 30•Tips and more reviews for Casinò Locarno
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Where to eat

Even the most seasoned adventurers need a break to chow down some food. Close to Piazza Grande, these restaurants are about a 1-minute walk away.

Tesoro 25 75 14 41

4.3
(196)
Bistro
Bar
Restaurant
Tesoro 25 75 14 41 is a unique and inviting gathering place that aims to create an atmosphere for sharing both joys and sorrows, whether for important moments or carefree relaxation. The establishment prioritizes the proximity of healthy products and local producers. Housed in a former bank, the interior holds surprises waiting to be discovered. Guests can enjoy an aperitivo while basking in the warmth of the staff's hospitality.
We enjoyed our spritz followed by a small apperitivo that was kindly offered. Value for money, very pleasant atmosphere. Highly recommended!
Elena K — Google review
We enjoyed our coffee and our cocktail with pleasure and nice views. The service was great and happy to help you with the menu and even if we didn’t know well the language tried to make as comfortable.
Nick T — Google review
Best bar in Locarno! We like the unusual interior design and the quality of drinks and food. The staff is young and very friendly but take your time and enjoy it - not a place for a quick 3-min-espresso.
Thomas R — Google review
Great place for evening sun, big patio with view of Piazza Grande, local drinks served with aperitivo & general atmosphere of relaxed well being. Cheers
Alma T — Google review
Very good experience! We went back and we fully recommend it. Great location, kind staff, different but also tradicional delicious options. Very veggie friendly. Detail oriented place. The pancakes were surreal and we can’t wait to go back! Thanks for the experience
Paula — Google review
Tasty Sunday brunch. The various plates were decorated with love and the dishes were made with fresh ingredients - yummy! The waitress and the team are all very friendly. And how nice that the restaurant has air conditioning!
Sugi X — Google review
Very good place to have a quick bite or drink, right on the center of Piazza grande in Locarno. Staff very friendly.
Jennifer E — Google review
Really good food and drinks, good variety of both alcoholic and non alcoholic options which is a big plus for me, friendly service, fair prices, nice atmosphere
Paulina K — Google review
Piazza Grande 16, 6600 Locarno, Switzerland•http://www.tesoro.cafe/•+41 91 752 14 14•Tips and more reviews for Tesoro 25 75 14 41

Perbacco - Ristorante Pizzeria

4.5
(1267)
•
4.4
(385)
$$$$affordable
Italian restaurant
Perbacco is a great pizzeria in Amsterdam. The food is consistently good, and the service can be better than at other restaurants. Children will enjoy the menu, which includes pizza and pasta dishes as well as some colouring activities.
I had lunch here, linguini with shrimps, the plate is just like the photo in the menu. The noodles were super fresh and delicious and the shrimps very tender. The green touch from Rucola is definitely a level-up both visually and taste-wise. For dessert, the banana bread with Marroni ice cream is super! The bread is so fluffy and soft, like eating a piece of cloud. It's not too sweet, either. Special complement to Enrico who provided excellent service, attentive, efficient, and friendly. It was a very pleasant dining experience.
Yan L — Google review
We spent a really pleasant evening at Perbacco - Ristorante Pizzeria. The food was very good and the service personal very competent. All our six dishes were served at the exact same time: Bravo! We still recognized a few possible improvements: - The risotto was considered a liiittle bit too salty - The pizza napoli had a liiitle to much oregano on it. The other dishes were impeccable! Buut…Also we had to wait a liiitle bit too long. Overall we must recommend the place and we are happy to visit Perbacco - Ristorante Pizzeria again on our next visits to Italy. 🇮🇹
Loris D — Google review
We came for dinner in a large group. Not a good first impression since they messed up our reservation and our table wasn't ready. They did recover and gave us a very nice long table for the family, the setting was nice. Operationally this restaurant struggles since the food takes a long time, and they can only handle orders for the entire group at once. There are many bottle-necks and you need to keep reminding the staff of what you had asked them. Food was ok.
Kevin A — Google review
Wonderful Restaurant. Staff is super nice. Even without reservation and full restaurant they carved out a table for 3 for my spouse and my son. Food and drinks as well as service was amazing. Was my second time and will come again. Mille gracie!
Marc W — Google review
Fantastic restaurant and pizzeria, the products are of very high quality, everything is delicious. The highlight was the home made tiramisu - we came back twice for it. Definitely recommend!
Boryana M — Google review
We only went to the restaurant for dinner, as we were in the area. The food was very nice (I had a lovely seasonal tagliatelle and the pizza was also good) they were also very accommodating about where we could sit, but they should pay more attention to the waiters - ours stunk terribly to the point of feeling sick when he was around. So bad for the restaurant reputation.
Aleksandra L — Google review
We enjoyed the variety of options on the menu and ordered two delicious vegan pasta dishes and soup as a starter. The service is lovely.
Corina M — Google review
Pizza was really nice, service was friendly - but we had to ask three times for the check.
V E — Google review
Via Giuseppe Cattori 4, 6600 Locarno, Switzerland•http://www.ristoranteperbacco.ch/•+41 91 601 07 99•Tips and more reviews for Perbacco - Ristorante Pizzeria
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Ristorante Locanda Locarnese

4.6
(212)
•
4.7
(419)
$$$$very expensive
Restaurant
Nestled in the picturesque town of Ascona, Ristorante Locanda Locarnese is a delightful eatery that captures the essence of Italian cuisine. With its cozy dining room featuring an inviting open fireplace, it creates a warm and charming atmosphere perfect for enjoying a meal. The chef at Locanda Locarnese takes pride in crafting seasonal menus that highlight fresh ingredients, ensuring each dish reflects the best of what nature has to offer throughout the year.
One of the best restaurants in Locarno by our experience in very center of the old city. Everything from menu was amazing! Service was friendly and professional.
AZ — Google review
The overall experience was good. My expectations were higher, food was greatly presented (even though a bit old fashioned), but it overtook flavours. The atmosphere was good and the staff really friendly. We got the full menu (5 courses) and they also brought an amuse bouche in the beginning. My comment is that somehow it was missing 'love' from the dishes. With a bit of extra care from good they could become delicious/extraordinary. I am not sure if I could go back for more. Thank you.
Harris K — Google review
Wonderful tasting menu, cozy open fireplace, and absolutely charming service. Piemonte at our doorstep.
Michael S — Google review
The food was good but I ordered the starter as a main course for 9 extra bucks (they had the option on the menu) but they came out with the small one anyways. I tried to ask why but was told they just couldn't do it? Careful next time for people ordering a starter as a main course.
Maira V — Google review
A very special restaurant in the old town elegant, traditional but modern and dynamic Elegant setting The specialities are from local inspiration but definitely modern in their presentation Excellent offer of wines 🍷 Service is impeccable and friendly
Barefoot C — Google review
Wonderful place, great food, the best service and everything for a decent price.
Andrea L — Google review
Incredible, mouthwatering risotto. We had the five course dinner, they even made us a vegetarian version on the fly as they had no equivalent on the menu. Service was incredibly kind, very “home”-like feeling. Reserve if you can as it was and maybe still is very busy, even during the week.
Victor K — Google review
Dishes were decorated with berries and camomiles and had amazing taste. Staff was very nice. The menu doesn't offer many varieties but most likely everyone finds something for them. Prices above average but it's worth it.
Nikita — Google review
Via Bossi 1, 6600 Locarno, Switzerland•http://www.locandalocarnese.ch/•+41 91 756 87 56•Tips and more reviews for Ristorante Locanda Locarnese
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What's the weather like in Locarno?

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Locarno for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

  • Weather in Locarno in January
  • Weather in Locarno in February
  • Weather in Locarno in March
  • Weather in Locarno in April
  • Weather in Locarno in May
  • Weather in Locarno in June
  • Weather in Locarno in July
  • Weather in Locarno in August
  • Weather in Locarno in September
  • Weather in Locarno in October
  • Weather in Locarno in November
  • Weather in Locarno in December

All road trips from Locarno

  • Locarno to Milan drive
  • Locarno to Paris drive
  • Locarno to London drive
  • Locarno to Venice drive
  • Locarno to Zurich drive
  • Locarno to Lucerne drive
  • Locarno to Bergamo drive
  • Locarno to Geneva drive
  • Locarno to Basel drive
  • Locarno to Bern drive
  • Locarno to Zermatt drive
  • Locarno to Lausanne drive
  • Locarno to Interlaken drive

Explore nearby places

  • Locarno
  • Orselina
  • Ascona
  • Rivera
  • Bellinzona
  • Lugano
  • Melide
  • Verbania
  • Laveno-Mombello
  • Leggiuno
  • Argegno
  • Mendrisio
  • Premia
  • Formazza
  • Ornavasso
  • Isola Bella
  • Stresa
  • Baceno
  • Domodossola
  • Tremezzina
  • Varese
  • Domaso
  • Bellagio
  • Bellano
  • Varenna
  • Perledo
  • Colico
  • Brunate
  • Como
  • Angera
  • Arona

All related maps of Locarno

  • Map of Locarno
  • Map of Orselina
  • Map of Ascona
  • Map of Rivera
  • Map of Bellinzona
  • Map of Lugano
  • Map of Melide
  • Map of Verbania
  • Map of Laveno-Mombello
  • Map of Leggiuno
  • Map of Argegno
  • Map of Mendrisio
  • Map of Premia
  • Map of Formazza
  • Map of Ornavasso
  • Map of Isola Bella
  • Map of Stresa
  • Map of Baceno
  • Map of Domodossola
  • Map of Tremezzina
  • Map of Varese
  • Map of Domaso
  • Map of Bellagio
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  • Map of Perledo
  • Map of Colico
  • Map of Brunate
  • Map of Como
  • Map of Angera
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Locarno throughout the year

  • Locarno in January
  • Locarno in February
  • Locarno in March
  • Locarno in April
  • Locarno in May
  • Locarno in June
  • Locarno in July
  • Locarno in August
  • Locarno in September
  • Locarno in October
  • Locarno in November
  • Locarno in December

Looking for other day-by-day itineraries in Locarno?

Check out our other curated itineraries that are also filled with jam-packed days:

  • 2-Day Locarno Itinerary
  • 3-Day Locarno Itinerary
  • 4-Day Locarno Itinerary
  • 5-Day Locarno Itinerary

Day itineraries for nearby cities

  • 1-Day Varese Itinerary
  • 1-Day Como Itinerary
  • 1-Day Laveno-Mombello Itinerary
  • 1-Day Lugano Itinerary
  • 1-Day Bellagio Itinerary
  • 1-Day Bellinzona Itinerary
  • 1-Day Verbania Itinerary
  • 1-Day Stresa Itinerary
  • 1-Day Domodossola Itinerary
  • 1-Day Arona Itinerary
  • 1-Day Mendrisio Itinerary
  • 1-Day Angera Itinerary
  • 1-Day Colico Itinerary
  • 1-Day Tremezzina Itinerary
  • 1-Day Ornavasso Itinerary
  • 1-Day Varenna Itinerary
  • 1-Day Ascona Itinerary
  • 1-Day Leggiuno Itinerary
  • 1-Day Formazza Itinerary
  • 1-Day Bellano Itinerary
  • 1-Day Baceno Itinerary
  • 1-Day Argegno Itinerary
  • 1-Day Perledo Itinerary
  • 1-Day Domaso Itinerary
  • 1-Day Rivera Itinerary
  • 1-Day Orselina Itinerary
  • 1-Day Melide Itinerary
  • 1-Day Brunate Itinerary
  • 1-Day Premia Itinerary
  • 1-Day Isola Bella Itinerary
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